ITV is facing a huge payout today as it emerged that one of its most experienced newsreaders is suing the broadcaster for religious discrimination, ageism and sexism.West Country Tonight presenter Lisa Aziz has been suspended for allegedly fiddling her expenses.
One of the seven claims was apparently a £5.75 bill for dry cleaning a child's top.
The 47-year-old presenter has not been seen hosting nightly news programme West Country Tonight for the past month.
Sources close to Ms Aziz today told the London Evening Standard that the presenter is claiming that senior managers at ITV West 'ambushed' her as part of a campaign of bullying and harassment in order to force her out the organisation.
They also say that the £200,000-a-year presenter has been 'overwhelmed with stress' and has been prescribed anti-depressants.
Ms Aziz alleges that her Muslim religion was used against her by bosses who told her to 'use her terror contacts' when investigating a story into Bristol terrorism suspect Andrew Ibrahim.
A source said that Ms Aziz 'hit the roof' when the younger employee made the remark.
The row is believed to have triggered the showdown with management with whom she has been at loggerheads for months after a merger between two ITV regions.
It is also thought that ITV may have breached its own procedures by suspending her. Although she has not been officially dismissed she could seek compensation 'rising into the millions'.
ITV West's head of news Liz Hannam and head of human resources Richard Thurston are both named in the official grievance documents issued to ITV.
A friend of Ms Aziz said: 'Lisa is overwhelmed with stress over how she has been treated. She never had her expenses claims questioned before and if they had a problem with any receipts she would have paid it back in a second. Instead they ambushed her with a few claims amounting to less than £200.
'She feels as if she has faced a campaign to be forced out. She has a good relationship with the local Muslim community as that was where she began her career but for a news editor to imply that she had "terror contacts" made her furious.
'It wouldn't happen to a white colleague or a male colleague, so there is an ageism and sexism issue as well as the racism. She has been off air for a month and ITV has replaced her with two blonde, blue-eyed presenters in their thirties. That says it all.'
Ms Aziz's place on the nightly news programme, which is broadcast across an area stretching from Gloucestershire to Cornwall, has been taken by two younger presenters, Claire Manning and Ellie Barker.
ITV sources said that Ms Aziz is well-regarded by senior figures at the channel in London.
Ms Aziz previously worked for Sky News and was the first Asian and first Muslim news presenter on mainstream TV.
ITV declined to comment on the allegations facing Ms Aziz.
An ITV spokesman said: “ITV never comments on ongoing investigations and follows established and recognised employment procedures.
'We vehemently deny any allegations relating to discrimination and will vigorously defend our position in this regard.'
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